The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1887-07-15
THE TERRENEVAUGHS.
How They Go Sailing Out of st.
Malo Bay.
Imposing Ceremonies OF simple Breton
Sailors Who Annually $50 Down to
the Sea In ships. and o<ten
Never Aesurn.

tiful stream in all France, stands the
walled town of St. Mslo. once the chiei
commercial city of Brittany. Every
spring fleet of tslut little brig-rigged
fishing vessels sails out of St. Malo,
bound for the Grand Banks of New
fountlland. to share with the men OF
the Canada coast, and the New Eng
land fishermen from Cape Cod and
Gloucester, the catch of eod that swarm
in those waters. These little vessels,
scslIre larger than the niackerel schoon-
eIs that daily feat in and out of Boston
harbor, are absent from France from
March till late in the autumn. The
dangers Gley encounter in fogs and
storms on the Banks are many, and
widows and fatherlcSs children arc
numerous along the Breton coast
Considering. therefore. the great
peril TO which their husbands. sons
and brothers and sAveethearts are to be
exposed. 1t IS not surprising that the
departure Of the Terrenevaughs is the
great event of the Year along the
Breton coast.
From their scattered winter quarters
in the hsIbois and eoves along the
rucky shore. and from the villages on
the hanks of the Rance, the vessels
come together in ST. Malo Bay by the
afternoon of the Sunday nearest the
spring tide. the day always fixed for
departure 1t would be hard to imag-
inc scene of greater local interest
The numerous vessels lie at anchor a
few hundred yards from the mainland.
while hundreds of smaller craft of
every description. independent of the
regularly organized tenders, ply inces-
sanity Between the little fleet and the
shore. bringing on board the crew,
with their outfits.
The noise of the mates and captains.
giving hoarSe orders through their
Speaking frumpets. the shouts of sailors
hailing recognized comrades on board
of neighboring barks, and the ever
shifting groups of prettily attired
Breton maids and matrons assembled
on the long. caTying quay, and the
rocks and cliffs, to see. some
Of them for the last time. the
faces of their loved ones, forms a scene
at once picturesque and sympathetic.
The time comes for the last leave
taking 10 be over. and the last fearful
allen to be spoktn. for at an appointed
hotir every man of the feet, nearly
fotr thousand men in all, must be on
board.
At a given signal the white sails, like
the rinions of sea-gulls, are spread to
the winds, the anchor is raised. every
flag Is dipped. and the vessels are
headed westward. whilst the crews.
with uncovered heads. as the sound of
saluting cannon from the Solidor
: Tower dies away. raise their voices in
faTeuvh lIy nm: .sAge MaIis Ste.. ....aI''-
Then. with slow and regular move
ments. The TeITenevauehs sweep out
into the ocean and gradually fade away
from the sight of wives and children,
who look them last adieu. Not until
the leaves on the great forest of Pom
t'sal that shelter many of their thatch-
rooted cottages begin to turn to red
and yellow hues. do any tidings come
to the waiting women of their ..bread-
winners ..far away on the billow,' for
Ignorance of the mysteries of writing
Is an Inheritance of the Breton fisher
men,
The wages earned by these toilers of
the sea are scant enough Their paw
ranges from twelve dollars to fifteen
dollars month But for the assistance
OF their sturdy wives, some of them
would be in sad straits to get through
the winter on their individual earnings.
Before ,e men start on their voyage
IN the spring. they rent small patch
ground AMI seed it in wheat Dur
Z the months Of her husbands ab-
nee The wife and children do all the |
srk that would have fallen to the |
an hal BE-. hfen 1T home The wheat
:. harvested I3v tTfsTiI and asnlalI area.
devoted 70 ldckwhe:4t or vegetables, is |
attended to. Usually. bit Of land is
seeded III flax.
They ARE famous helpmcets. indeed. |
fiess. brnwn-faceel. strong-limbed fish |
ers wives. They seem to think that |
FER marriage their highest duty on /
q i~ 70 wait on their husbands and |
fffIn happy; and who can say
they ara wrong in their philoso-
,iheSe people 90 on working ont |
-rf'sineas- = One forgets. while eaz-
at flIefr cheerful. cortented faces,
the matched roof of the little
e-Talled cottage shelters alike the
ly COW, and the razor-hack Breton
that the hens lay their eggs
bed and roost at night he
T-A comb of the roof. He for
gess tlat the solRSgHpcSnf, with its
mud foor, is parIor. bedroom and
kitchen alike. and almost wishes his lot
was east among these simple folks.
Bnr # months GO by. and finally
e report comes that returning Ter
enevaugh is enteringthe harbor. The
tews spreads. and a procession of old
IN, women and children IS soon or
way TO St Malo- Every cottage
$ 70 his procession of pilgrims, and
before the returning voyagers can
stinguished on the decks the cliffs
dotted with spectators. and the
people OF St.@AI,llo are crowded
-ssss-sqIIay. Every gazer strains
eyes to identify the vessel,
gers are offered on her name.
is a jubilant feeling in the
riff ones own friends should
2be on beard. each one may
RS of those friends But the
les VIII be stiIled and a feeling
and dread will follow, ii,
fi.s f,.5.., I;F4I.